On Tuesday April 5, 2016 the Ninth Circuit held that Arizona must continue to issue driver’s licenses to young undocumented individuals applying for relief under the Dream Act or DACA. See opinion issued on April 5, 2016

In January 2015, District Judge David G. Campbell issued a permanent injunction, blocking an executive order by former Gov. Jan Brewer that barred the state from issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented persons granted federal work permits under President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.  The government appealed.

However, The Ninth Circuit affirmed District Judge Campbell’s injunction: “Plaintiffs’ inability to obtain drivers’ licenses hinders them in pursuing new jobs, attending work, advancing their careers, and developing business opportunities.”

Jennifer Chang, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants’ Rights Project, commented: “Arizona has been stubbornly fighting this legal battle for almost four years, and these young people have been getting on with their lives, legally driving in all 50 states now and contributing their talents all across the country, and it’s really time for Arizona to move on as well.”